Sunday, November 04, 2007

And the war drags on . . .

Two of the conscientious objectors, charismatic Aidan Delgado (who leans toward Buddhism) and straight-arrow Joshua Casteel (a patriotic, evangelical Christian), are given honorable discharges after they refuse to kill in Iraq.Delgado, who finds himself incapable of using arms "designed to roast people," honors one rule: "Don't take life." Interrogating an Abu Ghraib jihadist who challenges his commitment to Jesus' teachings, Casteel becomes defensive and self-doubting and finally opts out of the service.

The above is from John Hartl's "'Conscience' a balanced, affecting debate about war" (Seattle Times) review of Soldiers of Conscience the new documentary by Gary Weimberg and Catherine Ryan which examines war resistance. Sam noted the above and saw the documentary which he praises highly. It's playing at various locations this week, use the title link to see if it's in your area.

They're just there to try and make the people free,But the way that they're doing it, it don't seem like that to me.Just more blood-letting and misery and tearsThat this poor country's known for the last twenty years,And the war drags on.-- words and lyrics by Mick Softly (available on Donovan's Fairytale)

Last Sunday, ICCC's number of US troops killed in Iraq since the start of the illegal war was 3839. Tonight? 3849 announced. 1,096,367 was the number of Iraqis killed in the illegal war (not a full count) last Sunday. Tonight? Just Foreign Policy lists 1,099,372.

Since the major outlets are either ignoring violence (no next-day wrap ups in the paper) or all taking part in Operation Happy Talk, Micah asked if it was possible to focus on the violence tonight? Sure.

Turning to reported violence and starting with Sunday.

Bombings?

Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports two Baghdad roadside bombings left eight people wounded (six were police officers) and claimed the life of 1 police officer, a car bombing in Tikrit claimed 2 lives (including a child) and left sixteen wounded while, outside Mosul, two car bombs wounded seventeen people (ten were police officers). Dropping back to Saturday, Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a Baghdad bombing that claimed the life of 1 civilian and left three police officers injured, a Baghdad car bombing that claimed 1 life and left four injured, a Baghdad mortar attack that left two wounded, an Al Mahaweel bombing that claimed the life of 1 police officer (another was wounded) and a Basra bombing targeting "Lieutenant General Mohan Hafidh and Basra police commander Major General Jaleel Khalf" who both survived whileReuters notes a Samarra car bombing that claimed 4 lives and left eleven wounded and they note a Khalis roadside bombing that claimed 1 life (ten more wounded) "outside a mosque."

Over the weekend, from just those two news outlets, that's 11 reported deaths from bombings.

Shootings?

Mohammed Al Dulaimy (McClatchy Newspapers) reports the Iraqi Ministry of Finance's Qutaiba Badr Al Deen was shot dead in Baghdad along with his bodyguard and a female school principle, Eman Hussein, was shot dead in Saidiyah. Reuters notes that another "woman principal at Um Qassir school" was wounded (in addition to Eman Hussein whose death they also note) and in an armed clash outside Hibhib, 3 Iraqi soldiers lost their lives with two more left injured. Dropping back to Saturday,Reuters notes that a woman was injured and a man shot dead outside of Baghdad, while a police officer was shot dead outside of Kut. Laith Hammoudi (McClatchy Newspapers) reports a second Saturday attack on officials, this one with guns, on Dr. Jabbar Yasir Al Maiyahi who is the president of Wasit University -- three of his guards and the Dr. Jabbar Yasir Al Maiyahi were wounded.

That's 8 who were reported shot dead from those two outlets.

Kidnappings?

Reuters notes the kidnapping on Saturday in Kut of "the wife of a police officer."

That's 23 corpses reported discovered. That's 42 reported deaths over the weekend from just those two outlets.

Meanwhile, Selcuk Gokoluk (Reuters) reports that the eight Turkish soldiers captured by the PKK in October were released today and that the US is crediting the Iraqi government (which, we all know, means that the US applied pressure at the very least -- they always try to 'create' an accomplishment for the central government in Baghdad). And Ross Colvin (Reuters) reportsthat while everyone was focusing on the meetings between Turkey and Iraq, Manouchehr Mottaki (Iraq's Foreign Minister) slipped in a plan (at the Condi meet up in Istanbul) that puts on hold the push (puts on hold by two years instead of proceeding next month) to make oil rich Kirkuk part of "Iraq's largely autonomous Kurdistan region" and notes "Analysts have warned that the dispute over the city's status could trigger an explosion of violence and possibly draw in neighbouring Turkey unless it is carefully handled. The city has witnessed frequent bombings and shootings in recent months."

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
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